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Marine's life 'an encouragement'

March 02, 2012 @ 11:00 PM

When two Marines show up at your doorstep early on a Sunday, you know it's not good news.

That's how the family of Lance Cpl. Jonathan Long of Barboursville started out the day Feb. 26.

Jon Long died Feb. 25 in Twentynine Palms, Calif., after a day of desert training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

Long's family and fiancee brought his body home to Barboursville from the Greater Cincinnati Airport on Friday, with an escort from Patriot Guard chapters in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

"His life was an encouragement," said grandmother Chris Long. "Jon had looked for his niche in life, and when he joined the Marine Corps, he found his sense of belonging."

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Lance Cpl. Jonathan Long of Barboursville, shown with this fiancee Chelse Jobe, died Feb. 25, 2012, in Twentynine Palms, Calif., after a day of desert training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Long of Barboursville, shown with this fiancee Chelse Jobe, died Feb. 25, 2012, in Twentynine Palms, Calif., after a day of desert training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Long of Barboursville died Feb. 25, 2012, in Twentynine Palms, Calif., after a day of desert training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Long of Barboursville died Feb. 25, 2012, in Twentynine Palms, Calif., after a day of desert training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Long of Barboursville died Feb. 25, 2012, in Twentynine Palms, Calif., after a day of desert training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Long of Barboursville died Feb. 25, 2012, in Twentynine Palms, Calif., after a day of desert training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Long of Barboursville died Feb. 25, 2012, in Twentynine Palms, Calif., after a day of desert training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.